Give prosthetics to low limbs amputees in Colombia

Accompanied by the sweet smell and taste of sugar cane, Leonel worked as he did every morning in the sugar mill. At approximately two o'clock in the afternoon, while leaving everything ready to make panela the next day, he was leaning on a pile of canes. When he least expected it, they slipped, causing his right foot to become entangled in the machine's pinions, leading him, undoubtedly, to an amputation.

Not even two hours passed. It was barely four o'clock in the afternoon and, he was already in the hospital. Minutes after the event, the ambulance took him to the medical center in Yolombó. Where they performed his surgery a few hours later, which according to Leonel, was successful because it went very well.

Leonel received a visit at his home from a user of two prostheses, who encouraged him, and gave him the good news. He shared with him the Corporation's telephone number, saying, "Well, call, and they can help you with a prosthesis or tell you what you can do."

A few months later, he received his first prosthesis and began a new path of hope. He went from depending on his family and crutches to moving around independently. Although he arrived with pain in his stump and some swelling, it only took him two hours to learn to walk again. Wearing the prosthesis donated by the Corporation, he thanks the people who believe in a better world, because what seemed impossible became an opportunity to start over.

Over time, he began to do some work. With a lot of motivation to move forward. Little by little, as he recovered his self-confidence, he performed activities, for which he emphasized: "it is practically not the same as before, but well, anyway, thanks to God I have moved forward with the help of all of you here, and I feel thrilled."

While waiting for his check-up appointment, he commented how good and happy he felt, expressing: "at least I was myself again, so that I didn't have to be worth it or wait for someone to do me a favor or I don't know, but that I could more or less see what I was capable of doing" for which his daughter commented, "He went back to work, it's not the same, because he can't get the cane, but cuts it, and asks who can get it for him. He has become a person who can fend for himself. It's not like before that he depended on us, and before the accident that we depended on him".

After understanding the power of the mind, he learned a great lesson: if you set your mind to it, you can achieve everything you dream of. Knowing that there are more people, who like him, have overcome different situations, he decided to share some words of encouragement, saying: "courage, to go forward, it is always good to trust again, first of all in God and in these people who are helping us" to which his daughter, Elizabeth, added: "it was very hard for me, and my mom because it is complicated anyway, but my God is kind, and for us, this foundation was the greatest blessing that God sent us because it is the truth."

His family has always been there to accompany and support him since he lives with his wife, daughter, and two grandchildren, always being his motivation. Elizabeth says: "even though Leonel's amputation was difficult for everyone, today we have a lot to be thankful for." For them, the service and attention they received from the Corporation's collaborators have been the best part of the process, because as Maria expressed: "the attention, the staff is excellent, all the change that gives life to people" and in this second visit to Mahavir Kmina, they felt reassured to know that they can continue to count on the service, whenever necessary.

With their smiles full of gratitude, they sent a message to all the people who believe and join the cause: "God bless you, because these donations and all this, change the lives of many people, they have them again, it is like the hope of being someone again" adding, "because when you are like this you lose, I don't know, many things, then when you come back like this, it is like when you die and are born again, it is the same."

Leonel is an example of the impact generated by the work done by the Corporation's team. As a prove of the lessons learned from each part of the process, they shared a reflection for everyone: "life is short, and we have to learn to value so many things that we do not value."

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